I see Lyerla becoming the next Graham at the TE position in the NFL. Both are extremely tall and have amazing vertical jumps. They both have WR speed and can be split out wide at any given time. Their respective athletic abilities are what set them apart from other TEs.

They are similar from a size and athleticism standpoint but there are quite a few guys like that in the NFL nowadays. Graham is vastly superior as a polished receiver and has much better hands/concentration. Until Lyerla improves in those areas he'll struggle to consistently dominate like Graham. Also I think the comparison to Aaron Hernandez is better because of all the ways they use him at Oregon.

He could become the next dominate TE or he could become the next Jared Cook or Jermaine Gresham.

I would actually say he's more refined as a blocker than as a receiver at this point. When I was watching Lyerla last season, he was asked to block much more frequently than catch passes. However, at the next level I'm not sure that Lyerla really has the strength to become too efficient in that regard, meaning he's probably going to have to increase his contributions as a receiver in order to be successful.

Don't follow Oregon closely but it seems that he is in the new coach's doghouse and hasn't been playing that much. He is a sure bet to come out this year. I think he compares more to Aaron Hernandez (on the field) - maybe a little more athletic though.

Don't follow Oregon closely but it seems that he is in the new coach's doghouse and hasn't been playing that much. He is a sure bet to come out this year. I think he compares more to Aaron Hernandez (on the field) - maybe a little more athletic though.

I agree he'd be used like Hernandez was and definitely more athletic. The guy runs around a 4.5 and has an insane vertical.

Lyerla seems like a strange guy. He shot his mouth off before the season about the Sandy Hook shootings being some sort of conspiracy, good luck with that. As you say he seems in the coaches doghouse now and not sure when he's going to emerge from that.